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A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 13
We encounter the American Carmelite priest, Fr. Albert Dolan, who is on a quest to seek out the Martin Sisters and to learn more about them and their experiences with their canonized sister, now St. Thérèse.
Later on, Léonie falls ill with influenza and is visited by then-Bishop Suhard, the Bishop of Bayeux-Lisieux. She then relates her other chronic health issues to her sisters, and of how well she is being tended to at the Visitation monastery.
This episode is lovely, for we get to see Léonie through the eyes of others, who are non-family members.
Fr. Gallagher says, “Léonie’s life holds a very important story because she was the forgotten one; she was the one who was in the last place; she was the one who was less gifted than the others. Today we would call her a ‘problem child,’ and we’ll see that she certainly was the source of great anxiety to her parents, especially to her mother, Zélie, who loved her dearly.”
As a child, Léonie suffered from severe illnesses and physical maladies that would plague her entire life. She also struggled with understanding social clues and interactions and with behaving appropriately. Conventional educational models of the day failed to meet her particular needs, and she was labeled “developmentally delayed.” Yet those who knew her well described her as having a “heart of gold.”
Who was Léonie and what were her struggles? Why has her cause of canonization begun? Father Gallagher, along with Kris McGregor, answers these questions and explains why Léonie is “a bearer of hope” in this landmark series.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
- Role Models in Faith: How can we be inspired by Fr. Albert Dolan’s devotion and persistence in spreading the message of St. Therese of Lisieux?
- Overcoming Challenges: What can Léonie’s transformation from a troubled youth to a devout nun teach us about perseverance and growth in our own spiritual lives?
- Humility and Kindness: How does Léonie’s humble and kind demeanor, despite her plain appearance, challenge our perceptions of true beauty and holiness?
- Gratitude in Vocation: What can we learn from Léonie’s unwavering gratitude for her vocation, even amid difficulties and suffering?
- Spiritual Growth: How does Léonie’s continuous effort to grow spiritually, even in her later years, inspire us to never stop seeking holiness?
- Handling Sensitivity: How can Léonie’s struggle with sensitivity and meticulousness guide us in managing our own personal quirks and challenges with grace?
- Devotion and Sacrifice: How can Léonie’sacceptance of suffering and offering it up for the intentions of the Church deepen our understanding of redemptive suffering?
- Expressions of Love: What does Léonie’s affectionate and positive language in her letters teach us about expressing love and gratitude in our daily interactions?
- Faith in Adversity: How can Léonie’s steadfast faith and joy, even in the face of illness and suffering, inspire us to trust in God’s plan during our own trials?
- Role of Community: How does the support and care Léonie received from her community reflect the importance of communal love and support in our faith journey?
The 4 Sisters - Marie, Pauline, Leonie, and Celine
St. Thérèse
Fr. Albert Dolan, O.Carm.
Bishop Suhard
A resource used for this series
Images in this post of the Martin/Guerin family are used with permission from the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux website for strictly non-commercial use. We encourage you to visit the website for more information on this remarkable family.
For more series Fr. Timothy Gallagher podcasts, visit here
Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org
